Valve



J. E. COLLINS May 22, 1962 VALVE Filed May 10, 195"! INVENTOR. JOHN E. CoLLiNs United States Patent Ofifice 3,035,611 VALVE John E. Collins, Akron, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Basic Economy Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 10, 1957, Ser. No. 658,308 6 Claims. (Cl. 137-623) This invention relates to electrically actuated valves and is especially useful for plunger valves having solenoid operated pilot valves for controlling the flow of the pressurized fluid that actuates the plunger.

One type of control valve heretofore used has a plunger that is displaceable in response to pressurized fluid acting on one or both ends of the plunger head, or on one or both ends of the plunger. The valve may be triggered by either a single or double solenoid operated pilot valves, which control the flow of pressurized fluid to and from one end of the plunger head or one end of the plunger. In valves of this type, the removal or disassembly of the pilot valves and the plunger valve from each other and from the manifold base heretofore has been a slow, troublesome and complicated task because of the way in which the electrical connections to the solenoid mechanism have been made.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which one representative form of valve apparatus embodying this invention is shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a single solenoidoperated pilot control valve with a portion broken away to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational sectional view of the upper half or male Portion of the lower electrical connector shown in the broken portion of FIG. 1, and taken through the prongs thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a double solenoid operated pilot control valve with a portion broken away to the show interior thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational sectional view of the lower half or female portion of the upper electrical connector shown in the broken portion of FIG. 3, and taken through the front sockets thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a plunger valve A mounted on a sub-base or manifold B, and a single solenoid operated pilot control member C disposed on the valve A. The housing 10 of the valve A, and the housing 12 of the manifold B have complementary meeting faces on the parting line 8, while the solenoid housing 14 and the plunger housing 10 have complementary meeting faces on the parting line 9. The respective housings may be secured together by any suitable means. The plunger valve A, in this instance, includes a plunger (not shown), which is displaceable is a longitudinal bore in the housing 10 in response to pressurized fluid acting on one or both of the plunger, or on one or both ends of a head on the plunger. Pressurized fluid is always maintained on one end of the plunger or on one end of the plunger head, with displacement of the plunger being effected by a difference in cross-sectional area of the two ends of the plunger or of the two ends of the plunger head. The valve may be triggered by the single solenoid operated pilot control member C, which controls the flow of pressurized fluid to and from the one end of the plunger or the one end of the plunger head.

Control of the flow of pressurized fluid through the valve manifold B is effected by controlling the position of necked-down portions on the plunger with respect to inlet and exhaust ports (the exterior ends thereof being shown at 13 and 15), which may be in communication with one or more piston-cylinder mechanisms or the like which the valve A may control.

As aforementioned, the solenoid operated pilot control member C triggers the valve A and contains a conventional solenoid, which actuates an armature that opens and closes valve ports in the solenoid housing 14 which, in turn, control the flow of pressurized fluid to and from the respective ends of the main plunger or to and from the respective ends of a head on the plunger.

In solenoid operated plunger control valves of the present type, the solenoid member C is usually disposed on top of the main plunger housing 10 as shown in FIG. 1. The source of electrical energy to operate the solenoid mechanism heretofore has been located either inside or somewhere adjacent the manifold housing 12. The wiring from the solenoid has been led from the solenoid housing 14 through a suitable external conduit around the main plunger housing 10, and then into or near the housing 12 where it is connected to the electrical power source. To effect repairs to the solenoid member C, or to the plunger valve A, or the manifold B, it is usually necessary to remove the solenoid housing 14 completely from the plunger housing 10, or to remove the plunger housing 10 from the manifold housing 12. Such removal operations cannot be effected completely and simply without cutting or otherwise disconnecting the wires and their conduit leading to the manifold and subsequently splicing them together again when the housings are reassembled.

In accordance with the invention, miniature, quickdisconnect types of electrical connectors F and G (FIG. 1) and H and J (FIG. 3) are provided for connecting the solenoid wiring to the electrical source of supply (not shown). Referring to FIG. 1, the solenoid member C requires the conventional two-wire electrical supply, hence, conventional two-prong types of connectors may be used. The connector F functions as a quick-disconnect means for detaching the wiring between the plunger housing 10 and the manifold housing 12, while the connector G functions as a quick-disconnect means for detaching the wiring between the solenoid housing 14, and the plunger housing 10. The connector F includes a female portion 18, and a male portion 20, which contains the prongs 22 and 24, and which are adapted to be received in corresponding sockets in the female portion 18. Because of space limitations, the connector G is smaller than the connector F, and includes the usual male portion 26, and the female portion 28.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the plunger valve A and the manifold or sub-base B are similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and the solenoid pilot control members M and N are similar to the pilot control member C. The solenoid member M controls the flow of pressurized fluid to and from one end of a head on the plunger or to one end of the plunger as aforedescr-ibed, while the solenoid member N controls the flow of fluid alternately (with respect to the member M) to and from the other end of the plunger head or the other end of the plunger to reciprocate the same. The housing 30 of the plunger valve A and the housing 32 of the manifold or sub-base B have complementary meeting faces on the parting line 34, while the solenoid housings 36 and 38 have complementary meeting faces with the housing 30 on the parting lines 49 and 42 respectively. Since each of the solenoid members M and N require a two-wire electrical supply, the original supply may be a three-wire system (wires 44, 45 and 46), which is subsequently divided into two separate two-wire lines leading to each of the solenoid members M and N. Hence, the connector H may be a conventional three-prong connector having the male and female portions 59 and 52 respectively, and functions as a quick-disconnect means for detaching the wiring between the plunger housing 30 and the manifold hous Patented May 22, 1962.

ing 32. The connector I functions as a quick disconnect means for detaching the wiring between the solenoid housings 36 and 38 and the plunger housing 30, and includes the female portion 54 and two male portions 56 and 58. The male portions 56" and 58 are conventional two-prong connectors. The female portion 54 is a four socket connector having the two forward sockets 60 and 62 (FIG. 4) joined by the wire 64 to makethe incoming wire 66 common to these two sockets and thereby divide the incoming three-wire system into two separate twowire lines for the respective solenoids M and N.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description, and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. a

I claim:

1. A solenoid operated plunger valve including, a manifold housing, a plunger housing disposed on said manifold housing, a plurality of solenoid valve housings disposed on said plunger housing, each of said solenoid housings containing fluid flow passages communicating with said plunger housing and solenoids having wiring leading therefrom through said plunger housing and through said manifold housing to an associated source of electrical supply, and electrical quick connecting means disposed in said housings at the respective mating surfaces thereof for detachably connecting the wiring therein.

2. A solenoid operated plunger valve constructed in accordance with claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises male and female prong-and-socket type of connectors. V

3. Valve apparatus comprising a main flow control valveincluding a housing and pressure responsive operating mechanism therefor, and a pilot valve including a housing releasably engaged with said flow valve housing at engageable mating portions of said housings, said pilot 7 valve having electrically-actuated means for regulating flow of fluid to said operating mechanism of said flow valve, means in said flow valve housing including a terminal at said mating portion thereof providing a source of electrical energy for operating said electrically actuated means of said pilot valve, and said electrically-actuated means having a terminal at said mating portion of said pilot valve housing engaged with the terminal of said energy source for disconnection solely by the act of separating said housings at said mating portions thereof.

4. Valve apparatus comprising a main flow control valve including a housing, flow-control mechanism therein, and fluid-pressure responsive means for operating said mechanism, and a pilot valve including a housing releasably fastened to said flow valve housing along engageable mating portions of said housings, said pilot valve having fluid flow passages therein communicating with said operating mechanism of said flow valve and includ- 7 ing electrically-actuated means for regulating flow to said operating mechanism, wiring in said flow valve housing communicating with a source of electrical energy, said wiring having a terminal at said mating portion of said flow valve housing, and said electrically-actuated means having a terminal at said mating portion of said pilot valve housing engaged with said other terminal for disconnection solely by the act of separating said housings at said mating portions thereof.

5. Valve apparatus comprising a main valve including a housing, fluid-conducting means and operating mechanism adapted to operate on fluid therein, and a pilot valve including a housing releasably engaged with said main valve housing at engageable mating portions of said housings with fluid-conducting means in said pilot valve housing communicating with the fluid-conducting means in the main valve housing, said pilot valve having electrically actuated means adapted to operate on fluid in said fluid conducting means for conducting fluid therethrough to said main valve, means in said main valve housing including a terminal at said mating portion thereof providing a source of electrical energy for operating said electrically actuated means of said pilot valve, and said electrically actuated means having a terminal at said mating portion of said pilot valve housing engaged with the terminal of said energy source for disconnection solely by the act of separating said housings at said mating portions thereof.

6. Valve apparatus of claim 5 which includes a base with means for conducting fluid from the main valve therethrough, said base and the main valve housing being releasably engaged at engageable mating areas thereof, electrical means in said base including a terminal at said mating area thereof, said means in the main valve housing providing said source of electrical energy including a terminal at said mating area, and said terminal at said mating area of the main valve housing engaged with said terminal at the mating area of the base for disconnection solely by the act of separating the main Valve housing from the base at said mating areas.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,670 Conrad July 9, 1918 1,699,787 Gray Jan. 22, 1929 1,967,021 Gary July 17, 1934 1,999,221 Walker Apr. 30, 1935 2,310,745 Parks Feb. 9, 1943 2,383,109 Conlan Aug. 21, 1945 2,389,895 Colley Nov. 27, 1945 2,515,519 Lawrence July 18, 1950 2,588,986 Reynolds Mar. 11, 1952 2,641,279 Baldwin June 9, 1953 2,750,569 Moon June 12, 1956 2,857,576 Veckert Oct. 21, 1958 FOREEGN PATENTS 920,315 France Jan. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,035,611 May 22 1962 John E. Collins It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 25, after "made." insert the following as a new paragraph:

The present invention provides an electrically actuated valve mechanism such as a solenoid operated plunger control valve in which the solenoid pilot valve housing, the plunger housing and the base manifold housing may be completely separated and disconnected one from another in a simple and expeditious manner by means of quick connect-detach type electrical connectors at the mating surf-aces be tween two or more of these components Preferably these connectors are plug-in connectors.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of November 1962,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

